Information service method and information service system

ABSTRACT

An information service method including the steps of reading out unique identification information written on a recording medium using a terminal equipment upon installation of the recording medium, transmitting the read-out unique identification information from the terminal equipment via a communication network, and registering the transmitted unique identification information using a server apparatus. The server apparatus then judges whether data related to the owner of the recording medium corresponding to the transmitted unique identification information exists, and data related to dedicated service intended for the owner is transmitted to the terminal equipment when it is judged that data related to the owner exists.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information service method and aninformation service system which provides the owner of a recordingmedium having contents such as music, etc. recorded thereon with serviceconcerning the contents from a manufacturer or a manufacturing companyof the contents.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in general, the owner of a recording medium such as anoptical disc having contents of music, etc. recorded thereon does notwrite information about the ownership of the recording medium to therecording area thereof. Thus, it is difficult for the user to specifyhis optical disc among similar recording media of the same appearance.So, there is proposed a recording medium to which the user can write hisidentification information so as to distinguish his optical disc fromother similar recording media.

On the other hand, such identification information written to arecording medium by the user is utilized only to confirm the ownershipand non-ownership of the recording medium, and there has not beenproposed a method utilizing the identification information with acommunication network such as the internet linked to a manufacturer.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing an informationservice method and an information service system which can transmitidentification information written to a recording medium having contentssuch as music, etc. recorded thereon to a manufacturer via acommunication network so as to provide the user with various service.

The above object can be attained by providing an information servicemethod, including the steps of reading out unique identificationinformation written on a recording medium using a terminal equipment oninstallation of the recording medium, transmitting the read out uniqueidentification information from the terminal equipment via acommunication network, and registering the transmitted uniqueidentification information using a server apparatus.

According to the information service method, it is judged whether datarelated to the owner of the recording medium corresponding to thetransmitted unique identification information exists or not by theserver apparatus, and data related to dedicated service intended for theowner is transmitted to the terminal equipment in case it is judged thatdata related to the owner exists.

Also, the above object can be attained by providing an informationservice system, including at least one terminal equipment for readingout unique identification information written on a recording medium, therecording medium being installed to the terminal equipment, and a serverapparatus for registering the unique identification informationtransmitted via a communication network, server apparatus connected tothe terminal equipment via the communication network.

According to the information service system, the server apparatus judgeswhether data related to the owner of the recording medium correspondingto the transmitted unique identification information exists or not, andtransmits data related to dedicated service intended for the owner tothe terminal equipment in case it is judged that data related to theowner exists.

Also, the above object can be attained by providing an informationservice method, including the steps of reading out unique identificationinformation written on a recording medium using a terminal equipment oninstallation of the recording medium, transmitting the read out uniqueidentification information from the terminal equipment via acommunication network, and transmitting data related to dedicatedservice intended for the owner corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information to the terminal equipment from the serverapparatus.

These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an audio information service systememploying the present intention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an optical disc having UID datarecorded thereon.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of record format of the UID data.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart explaining one utilization example.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed schematic view of the audio information servicesystem employing the present intention.

FIG. 6 shows a specific block diagram of an optical disc player.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart explaining the first half of setting up andresetting processing of the owner of the optical disc in the audioinformation service system.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart explaining the latter half of setting up andresetting processing of the owner of the optical disc in the audioinformation service system.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart explaining the processing when there arevarious kinds of dedicated service in accordance with the number of theoptical discs in the audio information service system.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart explaining the processing when the kind ofservice is determined depending on the optical disc in the audioinformation service system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The information service method and the information service systemaccording to the present invention will further be described belowconcerning the best modes with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The information service system employing the present invention is anaudio information service system which includes an optical disc player2, connected to a television receiver (TV) 3, to which an optical disc 1is to be installed, and a registration apparatus of a specific recordmanufacture (◯◯◯ record manufacturing company) being a terminalequipment which is connected to the optical disc player 2 by on-line viathe television receiver (TV) 3, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the present invention to be described bellow, the optical disc player2 as a terminal equipment or a personal computer, which has the opticaldisc player 2, as a terminal equipment is connected to a serverapparatus, on which a home page of the specific record manufacture isdisplayed, via a network such as a telephone line, a communicationnetwork, etc.

When the optical disc 1 is installed to the optical disc player 2, theoptical disc player 2 causes the TV 3 to display such as a URL being ahome page address to guide the user to on-line connection. Then, theoptical disc player 2 is connected to the server apparatus on which ahome page of the specific record manufacture is displayed under guidedprocedure steps performed by the user or automatically, and a home page3 a of the specific record manufacture is displayed on the TV 3 afterpredetermined authentication processing is performed between the opticaldisc player 2 and the server apparatus. The optical disc player 2 readsout unique identification information (referred to as UID data,hereinafter) written to the optical disc 1 in advance by the specificrecord manufacture or the user, and transmits the UID data to the serverapparatus or to the registration apparatus of the specific recordmanufacture via the server apparatus. Thus, in case the UID data iswritten to respective optical discs 1, each optical disc 1 can beidentified. So, even though there are produced one million optical discs1 of the same contents, one optical disc 1 among them can bedistinguished from others. So long as the UID data is registered in theserver apparatus or in the registration apparatus of the specific recordmanufacture, the optical disc 1 of a specific owner can be identified.

The optical disc 1 employed in the present invention is of the samephysical configuration as that of what is called a compact disc, and hasan inner recording area 41 having format data recorded thereoncompatible with a CD (Compact Disc), and an outer recording area 42 of arecording density higher than that of the inner recording area 41, forexample double the recording density of the inner recording area 41, asshown in FIG. 2. The inner recording area 41 has recorded thereon theCD-DA (Digital Audio) data standardized by the Red Book or data based onthe CD-ROM (Read Only Memory) format standardized by the Yellow Book.The track pitch of the outer recording area 42 is narrower than that ofthe inner recording area 41 by 1.6 μm. The encoding processing of eitherthe modulation manner or the error correction manner performed for datarecorded on the outer recording area 42 is different from that performedfor data recorded on the inner recording area 41. The UID data isrecorded to a lead-in area 43 whose data is firstly read out when theoptical disc 1 is installed to the optical disc player 2, which area islocated at the inner area of the inner recording area 41. The UID datais recorded by physically and chemically changing a reflecting filmwhich is made of aluminum alloy and arranged on the basal plate of theoptical disc 1 using the optical disc player 2 or an optical discrecording apparatus having recording function. The UID data may bewritten in the form of pit strings made up of a plurality of pitssimilar to data recorded on the inner recording area 41 or data recordedon the outer recording area 42, or may be recorded to a UID record areawhich is located at the inner area of the lead-in area 43 in the form ofbar codes using a laser beam irradiated from a YAG laser.

In this embodiment, the optical disc from which audio information isreproduced is not restricted to the optical disc 1 shown in FIG. 2, andmay be a CDR/RW, MO, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc. Furthermore,instead of the optical disc 1 being a disc-shaped recording medium,other types of various recording media, for example, a card-shapedrecording medium, a tape-shaped recording medium such as a magnetictape, and a card-shaped recording medium using a semiconductor memory asa recording medium may be used.

The registration apparatus of the specific record manufacture registersthe UID data read out from the optical disc 1 by the optical disc player2 and transmitted from the optical disc player 2 via a network. Theregistration apparatus of the specific record manufacture may be a largecomputer having communication function.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of record format of the UID data beingthe unique identification information. In FIG. 3, for example, an areacomposed of leading 32 bits of the UID data is set to be thesynchronization (Sync) data area, while an area following the Sync dataarea is set to be the encryption area X₁ to which data information ofthe UID data to identify the optical disc 1 as a recording mediumindividually is recorded after undergoing conversion processing,specifically encryption processing. The encryption area X₁ is made up of128 bits consisting of 16 bits ID data of the record manufacture(generally, contents manufacture and/or provider), 32 bits dataindicative of record number (manufacturing number), 16 bits ID data of amanufacturing apparatus, 48 bits data indicative of a serial number, 16bits error correction codes (ECC-A) or error detection codes (EDC-A).The manufacturing apparatus ID data is identification data of amanufacturing apparatus which records the 48 bits data indicative of aserial number, and the manufacturing apparatus ID data itself is alsoused as a part of individual ID data to identify a recording medium. The48 bits data indicative of a serial number is the main portion of theindividual identification data to identify a recording mediumindividually, and the record manufacture (contents manufacture and/orprovider) can perform allocation in the area freely. The serial numberitself is not necessarily a consecutive number.

In this embodiment, in the 48 bits data indicative of a serial number,data of manufacture date or manufacture year, month, and day of theoptical disc 1 as a disc-shaped recording medium, data of manufactureplace using GPS indicative of location, network information (URL) formaking a connection to a network such as the internet using a portabletelephone or a personal computer are allocated by the record manufacture(contents manufacture and/or provider). An additional area capable ofrecording other data may be formed in the 48 bits data indicative of aserial number. Following the encryption area X₁ consisting of from the16 bits ID data of the record manufacture to the 16 bits errorcorrection codes or error detection codes, 64 bits error correctioncodes (ECC-B) is further arranged. So, the UID data made up of the Syncdata area, the encryption area X₁, and the ECC-B has 224 bits in all.

The 16 bits error correction codes (ECC-A) or error detection codes(EDC-A) are generated by the cyclic redundancy code (CRC) using apolynomial described bellow.g(x)=x16+x12+x5+1This polynomial g(x) may be arbitrary set up by the record manufacture(contents manufacture and/or provider). Thus, inconsistent “bit strings”can be surely excluded. The 16 bits error correction codes (ECC-A),whose purpose is different from that of the 64 bits error correctioncodes (ECC-B), is used not to perform error correction or errordetection, which is the original purpose of error correction codes, butto perform authentication of the UID data.

The 64 bits error correction codes (ECC-B) are generated by the (24, 16,9) Reed-Solomon Coding using a polynomial described bellow.f(x)=x8+x4+x3+x2+1when f(α)=0G(x)=(x+1)(x+α)(x+α2) . . . (x+α7)This 64 bits error correction codes (ECC-B) has correction ability of 4byte detection correction and 8 byte elimination correction.

As has been described above, the error correction codes arranged in theUID data uses two or more kinds of error correction codes (ECC) or errordetection codes (EDC), one of which are used to perform error correctionor error detection, which is the original purpose thereof, while theother of which are used to authenticate the UID data.

In the encryption area X₁ of the UID data, for example, 128 bits data isencrypted using the public key system of the RSA (Rivest, Shamir andAdleman) system or the common key system of the DES (Data EncryptionStandard) system so that the UID data is not stolen by other users.

The record format of the UID data shown in FIG. 3 is one example, andthe number of bits or the arrangement of respective areas can be set uparbitrary, and the number of kinds of areas can be increased ordecreased.

In the audio information service system shown in FIG. 1, the opticaldisc player 2 reads out the UID data from the optical disc 1, and theURL of the record manufacture is read out from the UID data, and thenthe optical disc player 2 or a personal computer connected to theoptical disc player 2 has an access to the home page 3 a of the specificrecord manufacture based on the read out URL via a network to make aconnection to the registration apparatus of the specific recordmanufacture. In result, the user can receive various service to bedescribed later.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart explaining the process from when the userpurchases the optical disc 1 until when the optical disc player 2 or apersonal computer connected to the optical disc player 2 is connected tothe home page 3 a of the ◯◯◯ record manufacturing company.

In step S51, the user purchases the optical disc 1 provided with the UIDdata. In step S52, the user reproduces data recorded on the optical disc1 using the optical disc player 2. In step S53, the optical disc player2 reads out the UID data and the URL of the record manufacture from theoptical disc 1. In step S54, the optical disc player 2 or a personalcomputer connected to the optical disc player 2 has an access to thehome page 3 a of the specific record manufacture via a communicationnetwork such as the internet based on the read out URL. Then, whenauthentication processing is performed between the optical disc player 2or a personal computer connected to the optical disc player 2 and theserver apparatus or the registration apparatus of the specific recordmanufacture, the optical disc player 2 or the personal computer sendsthe UID data to the server apparatus or the registration apparatus.Then, the authentication of the UID data is performed, and the user canreceive various service in case the authentication of the transmittedUID data is correctly performed. That is, the optical disc 1 providedwith the UID data is linked to the home page 3 a of the specific recordmanufacture, then the validity and the number of accessing time of theoptical disc 1 is authenticated based on the UID data, and then the useris provided with various service.

The user who is proved to be valid can receive various service such asfree net live programs of artists, downloading of music and lyrics,distribution of discount tickets of concerts, delivery of graffiti arts,etc. The user can receive service based on lot after the specific recordmanufacture accepts the UID data transmitted from respective users.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a communication system in which theoptical disc player 2 as a terminal equipment reads out data recorded onthe optical disc 1 provided with UID data, and the optical disc player 2communicates with a server apparatus 39 as the registration apparatus ofthe specific record manufacture being a service provider directly orusing a personal computer, not shown, via an internet 38. In the exampleshown in FIG. 5, a terminal equipment composed of the optical discplayer 2 and the TV 3 is connected to the server apparatus 39 via theinternet 38, while in reality, a plurality of terminal equipments areconnected to the server apparatus 39 via the internet 38.

FIG. 6 shows a specific block diagram of the optical disc player 2. Asshown in FIG. 6, data recorded on the optical disc 1 is read outoptically by an optical head 11, and output signals from the opticalhead 11 are sent to an RF amplifier 12. The RF amplifier 12 performssignal processing of amplification, etc. for the output signals form theoptical head 11 to generate reproduced RF signals and other varioussignals for servo controlling. The reproduced RF signals from the RFamplifier 12 are sent to an EFM (8-14 modulation) demodulation circuit13 to be EFM-demodulated, and thus EFM-demodulated signals are sent to alead-in read-out circuit 14. Various signals for servo controlling(tracking error signals, focusing error signals, etc.) from the RFamplifier 12 and reproduction clock signals from the EFM demodulationcircuit 13 are sent to a servo circuit 15, then the servo circuit 15outputs various servo signals. That is, spindle servo signals from theservo circuit 15 are sent to a spindle motor 16 for driving or rotatingthe optical disc 1, and tracking servo signals and focusing servosignals are sent to an actuator of an objective lens arranged at theoptical head 11, and thread servo signals are sent to a thread drivemotor of a thread mechanism 17 for moving the optical head 11 along theradial direction of the optical disc 1. Commands and control signals aresent between the servo circuit 15 and a controller 18. The controller 18may be a microcomputer.

The lead-in read-out circuit 14 extracts data recorded on the lead-inarea 43 of the optical disc 1 out of output data from the EFMdemodulation circuit 13, and sends thus extracted data to a UIDexistence judgement circuit 21. The UID existence judgement circuit 21detects existence judgement information of the UID data out of outputdata from the lead-in read-out circuit 14 to judge whether the UID datais recorded on the optical disc 1 or not, that is judges the existenceof the UID data. In case the UID existence judgement circuit 21 judgesthat there is no UID data, the optical disc player 2 reproduces datarecorded on the optical disc 1 based on a conventional format such asthe compact disc standard format, and outputs reproduced data from anoutput terminal 22. On the other hand, in case the UID existencejudgement circuit 21 judges that there exists the UID data, the UIDexistence judgement circuit 21 sends control signals to the lead-inread-out circuit 14 and to a switch 23 so as to cause the lead-inread-out circuit 14 to resend data read out from the lead-in area 43 aswell as turn on the switch 23 to send signals including the UID datafrom the lead-in read-out circuit 14 to a UID identification circuit 24.In this example, it is assumed that the UID data is recorded in thelead-in area 43. In case the UID data is recorded to the UID record arealocated at the inner area of the lead-in area 43, as has been describedabove, the UID data recorded on the UID record area is read out and sentto the UID identification circuit 24. The UID identification circuit 24extracts the UID data out of output data from the lead-in read-outcircuit 14. Then, thus extracted UID data is output from an outputterminal 26, and transmitted to the server apparatus 39 via the internet38. At this time, the controller 18 outputs reproduced data from anoutput terminal 25 to a reproduced signal processing circuit, not shown.

Next, the operation of the audio information service system shown inFIG. 5 will be explained in detail. Firstly, setting up and resettingprocessing of the owner of the optical disc 1 will be explained withreference to FIG. 7. In the following processing, it is assumed that theuser purchased a new optical disc 1, while the owner of the optical disc1 has not been specified. And, the case in which the user who purchasedthe optical disc 1 has registered the owner and the case in which theuser who purchased the optical disc 1 has not registered the owner willbe explained. In case the user does not want to register the owner, theuser can make the optical disc 1 unowned.

In step S1, the optical disc 1 is installed to the optical disc player2. In step S2, the optical disc player 2 or a personal computer, notshown, connected to the optical disc player 2 has an access to the homepage 3 a of the specific record manufacture via a communication networksuch as the internet. Then, the home page 3 a is displayed on a displayof the TV 3.

Next, in step S3, the server apparatus 39 as the registration apparatusof the specific record manufacture reads out the UID data which isextracted from the optical disc 1 under the above-described processingby the optical disc player 2 and transmitted via a communication networksuch as the internet. After the server apparatus 39 as the registrationapparatus of the specific record manufacture reads out the UID data sentfrom the user, in step S4, the existence of the owner of the opticaldisc 1 is judged based on the read out UID data. In case it is judgedthat there exists an owner of the optical disc 1 in step S4, then instep S5, it is judged whether the operator who operates the optical discplayer 2 currently and operates the home page 3 a of the specific recordmanufacture is the owner or not. The judgement in step S5 is performedby the server apparatus 39 by prompting the user to input hispredetermined password and judging the validity of the input password.

In case it is judged that the operator of the optical disc player 2 andthe home page 3 a is the owner of the optical disc 1 in step S5, then instep S6, it is judged whether the operator as the owner changes theowner or not. The change of the owner in step S6 takes transfer ordonation of the optical disc 1 into consideration. In case it is judgedthat the operator does not change the owner in step S6, then instep S7,the specific record manufacture provides the operator with dedicatedservice intended for the owner.

In case it is judged that the operator of the optical disc player 2 andthe home page 3 a is not the owner of the optical disc 1 in step S5,then in step S8, the specific record manufacture does not provide theoperator with dedicated service intended for the owner.

In case it is judged that the operator changes the owner in step S6,then in step S9, authentication of the operator as the user is performedby prompting the user to input his password. Then in step S10,authentication is performed by judging the validity of the inputpassword or judging whether the input password is correct or not. Incase the authentication of the operator as the user is correctlyperformed in step S10 that is the input password is correct, then instep S11, the operator as the user inputs a new owner name or data formaking the optical disc 1 unowned.

In case the authentication of the operator as the user is not correctlyperformed in step S10, that is, in case it is judged that the operatoras the user is not the owner, it is judged that unfair processing isperformed. Then, in step S12, the processing is judged to be error. Atthis time, notification indicative of error is displayed on the TV 3.

In step S4, in case the read out UID data does not correspond toregistered UID data and it is judged that there exists no owner of theoptical disc 1, then in step S13 shown in FIG. 8, it is judged whetherthe operator sets up the owner of the optical disc 1 or not.

As shown in FIG. 8, in case the operator selects the setting up of theowner in step S13, then in step S14, after the display screen of the TV3 is changed, information related to the owner, or the operator as theuser is input. After the user information is input in step S14, then instep S15, the server apparatus 39 of the specific record manufacturecauses the operator to set up a password. Then in step S16, setting upof the owner is completed. Then in step S17, thus newly registeredoperator as the owner is provided with dedicated service intended forthe owner. In step S14, a display screen indicating input items toperform setting up of the owner is displayed on a monitor of the TV 3 ora personal computer being the terminal equipment based on data from theserver apparatus 39.

In case the operator does not select the setting up of the owner in stepS13, then in step S18, dedicated service intended for the owner is notprovided.

That is, when the operator is proved to be the owner after the ownerregistration or owner change registration, the operator can receivededicated service intended for the owner as long as the registeredoptical disc 1 is installed to the optical disc player 2 and the datathereof is reproduced.

Next, the processing when there are various kinds of dedicated servicewhich depends on the number of the optical disc 1 will be explained withreference to FIG. 9.

First, in step S21, the optical disc player 2 or a personal computerconnected to the optical disc player 2 has an access to the home page 3a of the specific record manufacture via a communication network such asthe internet. Then in step S22, the operator inputs his password whichhad been set up by the owner in advance, and the user authentication isperformed by judging the validity of the input password. In step S23, itis judged whether the operator is the owner or not, and in case theauthentication is correctly performed, then in step S24, lists ofservice which the owner can receive is displayed on the home page 3 a.The operator as the owner is made select service from the service lists.At this time, the operator as the owner can know that the operator isprovided with service under point system when the contents are displayedon the home page 3 a of the TV 3, that is, the operator can receiveservice which differs every album, artist, record manufacture or labeldepending on the possessed points. Thus, the operator can know whichservice he can receive. The server apparatus 39 performs operation forindicating which service the operator can receive, and performs theprocessing for displaying and notifying the service on the terminalequipment.

For example, in step S25, when the operator selects the album, pointswhich has been obtained by the owner and service corresponding to thepoints will be displayed in a frame (shown as dotted frame in FIG. 9) ordisplayed in a flashing manner. The points concerning the albumcorresponds to the number of the album in case a plurality of the samealbums are possessed.

In step S26, when the operator as the owner selects the artist, theowner can know the kinds of service corresponding to points based on thetotal number of the optical discs 1 of the same artist. In this case,similar to the step S25, the points are determined based on the totalnumber of the optical discs 1 of an artist possessed by the operator,and the service is known to the operator when the service and the pointswill be displayed in a dotted frame or displayed in a flashing manner onthe home page 3 a of the TV 3. The total number of the optical discs 1corresponds to the total number of the optical discs 1 registered in theserver apparatus 39.

In step S27, when the operator as the owner selects the recordmanufacture or label, the owner can know the kinds of servicecorresponding to points based on the total number of the optical discs 1of the same record manufacture or label. In this case, the total numberof the optical discs 1 corresponds to the number of possessionregistered in the server apparatus 39.

In step S28, when the operator as the owner selects servicecorresponding to points among service of the album, artist, recordmanufacture or label, and performs determination operation, data basedon selected and determined service is transmitted to the serverapparatus 39 of the specific record manufacture. Then, in step S29,after receiving the transmitted data based on the selected service, theserver apparatus 39 of the specific record manufacture sends datacorresponding to the selected service to the operator as the owner, thatis, to the optical disc player 2 or a personal computer via acommunication network such as the internet so as to provides the ownerwith the service.

By thus performing the above-described processing, the server apparatus39 of the specific record manufacture as the center side can grasp thenumber of media possessed by the operator or the user every album,artist, or record manufacture. Thus, the center side can provide theuser with service corresponding to the number. The more the number ofthe optical discs 1 as contents recording media possessed by the user,the higher the grade of service becomes. As has been described above,there is advantage that once the owner performs registration, the ownercan receive service.

Next, the processing when service the user can receive differs dependingon the optical disc 1, or the processing when the kind of service isdetermined will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.

In step S31, the optical disc 1 is installed to the optical disc player2. In step S32, the optical disc player 2 or a personal computer, notshown, connected to the optical disc player 2 has an access to the homepage 3 a of the specific record manufacture via a communication networksuch as the internet. That is, the optical disc player 2 or a personalcomputer connected to the optical disc player 2 has an access to theserver apparatus 39.

Next, in step S33, the server apparatus 39 as the registration apparatusof the specific record manufacture reads out the UID data which isextracted from the optical disc 1 by the optical disc player 2 andtransmitted via a communication network such as the internet. After theserver apparatus 39 as the registration apparatus of the specific recordmanufacture reads out the UID data sent from the user, in step S34, thegrade or rank of service which the user is provided with is judged usingthe read out UID data.

Concerning the grade of the service, there are A rank, B rank, and Crank, where the A rank is highest rank and the C rank is normal rank andthe B rank is between the A rank and the C rank. In step S34, in case itis judged that service of the A rank or the B rank can be provided, thenin step S35, inputting for performing authentication of the operator asthe owner is performed. As described above, for example, theauthentication is performed by judging the validity of the passwordinput by the operator. In case the authentication is correctlyperformed, that is Yes in step S36, then in step S37, the serverapparatus 39 provides the user with A rank service or B rank service. Incase the authentication is not correctly performed in step S36, then instep S38, the processing is judged to be error. At this time, the TV 3displays that the authentication is not correctly performed. In stepS34, in case it is judged that the server apparatus 39 provides the userwith C rank service, then in step S39, the server apparatus 39 providesthe user with C rank service of normal service. In step S37, the usermay be made select the A rank service or the B rank service.

The processing shown in FIG. 10 gives ranks to the optical disc 1 inadvance. In this processing, different ID data may be given torespective recording areas of the optical disc 1 depending on the priceof the optical disc 1 to change the contents of service. As the C rankservice, service which a person who does not own the optical disc 1 canbe provided with may be prepared.

In employing the present invention, the owner of the optical disc 1 tobe rented may be set to be an optical disc livery or a person whofirstly rented the optical disc 1. Also, in the present invention, forexample, at the user side and at the center side, setting up of theowner and change of the owner can be performed freely. Also, the opticaldisc 1 may be made unowned.

By employing the present invention, a part of sales of the optical discsas media having contents such as music, etc. recorded thereon can bereturned to the user, while a part of collected money can be returned tothe user when the optical discs are used under the pay-per-use.

Furthermore, the optical disc itself can be used as a registered bond ora registered stock.

As in the above, according to the present invention, the owner of theoptical disc can be specified using the UID data, and the ownership andnon-ownership of the optical disc can be determined by the user (owner)side or by the center side (record manufacture), and further theownership can be transferred.

According to the present invention, quality and quantity (includingdistribution money) of service can be changed in accordance with theowner, which enables thorough service. Thus, desire to purchase theoptical disc is stimulated.

According to the present invention, service can be changed in accordancewith the ownership and non-ownership of the optical disc. For example,in the above-described embodiment, ranks of service to be provided aredetermined based on the transmitted UID data. On the other hand, datarelated to a rank of service may be included in the UID data in advanceso as to change quality and quantity of service to be provided inaccordance with data indicative of the rank extracted from the UID data.Thus, according to the present invention, optical discs of high rankservice can be sold at a high price.

According to the present invention, the optical disc player or apersonal computer connected to the optical disc player has communicationfunction to make a connection to a communication network, while atelevision receiver may have communication function to make a connectionto a communication network such as the internet.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As in the above, according to the present invention, uniqueidentification information written to recording media such as theoptical discs having contents of music, etc. recorded thereon istransmitted to the contents provider via a communication network such asthe internet. Thus, the user can be provided with various service byutilizing the transmitted unique identification information. So, theuser is provided with various service from the contents provider, whichpromotes desire to purchase the optical discs having contents of music,etc. recorded thereon.

1. An information service method, comprising the steps of: reading outunique identification information written on a recording medium using aterminal equipment having the recording medium installed thereon;transmitting the unique identification information obtained in the stepof reading out from the terminal equipment via a communication network;registering the unique identification information transmitted in thestep of transmitting using a server apparatus; and determining a gradeof service by utilizing the unique identification information.
 2. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 1, further comprisingthe step of judging whether data related to an owner of the recordingmedium corresponding to the transmitted unique identificationinformation exists by the server apparatus, and data related todedicated service intended for the owner is transmitted to the terminalequipment when it is judged that data related to the owner exists. 3.The information service method as set forth in claim 2, wherein, when itis judged that data related to the owner exists, judging whether anoperator of the terminal equipment is the owner, and data related to thededicated service is transmitted to the terminal equipment when it isjudged that the operator is the owner.
 4. The information service methodas set forth in claim 3, wherein data related to the dedicated serviceis not transmitted to the terminal equipment when it is judged that theoperator is not the owner.
 5. The information service method as setforth in claim 2, wherein, when it is judged that the operator is theowner, performing authentication of the operator of the terminalequipment when the operator changes the owner, and data indicative ofthe owner corresponding to the transmitted unique identificationinformation is rewritten when the authentication is correctly performed.6. The information service method as set forth in claim 5, whereinnotification indicative of an error is displayed on the terminalequipment when the authentication is not correctly performed.
 7. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 2, wherein, when it isjudged that data related to the owner corresponding to the transmittedunique identification information does not exist by the serverapparatus, displaying on a display screen of the terminal equipmentinput items to perform setting up of the owner when the operatorperforms the setting up of the owner.
 8. The information service methodas set forth in claim 2, wherein, when it is judged that data related tothe owner corresponding to the transmitted unique identificationinformation does not exist by the server apparatus, data related todedicated service intended for the owner is not transmitted to theterminal equipment when an operator does not perform the setting up ofthe owner.
 9. The information service method as set forth in claim 1,wherein data related to dedicated service intended for an ownercorresponding to the transmitted unique identification information istransmitted to the terminal equipment from the server apparatus.
 10. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 9, whereinauthentication of an operator of the terminal equipment is performed,and data related to the dedicated service is transmitted to the terminalequipment when the authentication is correctly performed.
 11. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 9, wherein data tonotify the dedicated service which an operator of the terminal equipmentcan receive is transmitted to the terminal equipment based on the uniqueidentification information transmitted by the server apparatus.
 12. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a kind ofthe dedicated service corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information is selected, and data related to selecteddedicated service is transmitted to the terminal equipment.
 13. Theinformation service method as set forth in claim 12, whereinauthentication of an operator of the terminal equipment is performedafter the kind of the dedicated service is selected, and data related tothe dedicated service is transmitted to the terminal equipment in casethe authentication is correctly performed.
 14. An information servicesystem, comprising: a terminal equipment operable to read out uniqueidentification information written on a recording medium installed inthe terminal equipment; a server apparatus operable to register uniqueidentification information transmitted via a communication network,wherein the server apparatus is connected to the terminal equipment viathe communication network; and means for determining a grade of serviceby utilizing the unique identification information.
 15. The informationservice system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the server apparatusjudges whether data related to an owner of the recording mediumcorresponding to the transmitted unique identification informationexists, and transmits data related to dedicated service intended for theowner to the terminal equipment when it is judged that data related tothe owner exists.
 16. The information service system as set forth inclaim 15, wherein, when it is judged that data related to the ownerexists, the server apparatus judges whether an operator of the terminalequipment is the owner, and transmits data related to the dedicatedservice to the terminal equipment when it is judged that the operator isthe owner.
 17. The information service system as set forth in claim 16,wherein the server apparatus does not transmit data related to thededicated service to the terminal equipment when it is judged that theoperator is not the owner.
 18. The information service system as setforth in claim 15, wherein, when it is judged that an operator is theowner, the server apparatus performs authentication of the operator ofthe terminal equipment when the operator changes the owner, and allowsdata indicative of the owner corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information to be rewritten when the authentication iscorrectly performed.
 19. The information service system as set forth inclaim 18, wherein the server apparatus displays notification indicativeof an error on the terminal equipment when the authentication is notcorrectly performed.
 20. The information service system as set forth inclaim 15, wherein, when it is judged that data related to the ownercorresponding to the transmitted unique identification information doesnot exist, a display screen of the server apparatus displays input itemsto perform setting up of the owner on the terminal equipment when anoperator performs the setting up of the owner.
 21. The informationservice system as set forth in claim 15, wherein, when it is judged thatdata related to the owner corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information does not exist, the server apparatus does nottransmit data related to dedicated service intended for the owner to theterminal equipment when an operator does not perform the setting up ofthe owner.
 22. The information service system as set forth in claim 14,wherein the server apparatus transmits data related to a dedicatedservice intended for owner corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information to the terminal equipment.
 23. Theinformation service system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the serverapparatus performs authentication of an operator of the terminalequipment, and transmits data related to the dedicated service to theterminal equipment when the authentication is correctly performed. 24.The information service system as set forth in claim 22, wherein theserver apparatus transmits data to notify the dedicated service that theoperator of the terminal equipment can receive to the terminal equipmentbased on the transmitted unique identification information.
 25. Theinformation service system as set forth in claim 22, wherein a kind ofthe dedicated service corresponding to the transmitted uniqueidentification information is selected, and the server apparatustransmits data related to the dedicated service that is selected to theterminal equipment.
 26. The information service system as set forth inclaim 25, wherein the server apparatus performs authentication of theoperator of the terminal equipment, and transmits data related to thededicated service to the terminal equipment when the authentication iscorrectly performed.
 27. An information service method, comprising:reading out unique identification information written on a recordingmedium using a terminal equipment; transmitting the uniqueidentification information read out by the terminal equipment via acommunication network to a server apparatus; and transmitting datarelated to a grade of service by utilizing the transmitted uniqueidentification information to the terminal equipment from the serverapparatus.
 28. The information service method as set forth in claim 27,further comprising performing authentication of an operator of theterminal equipment, and in which data related to the grade of service istransmitted to the terminal equipment when the authentication iscorrectly performed.
 29. The information service method as set forth inclaim 27, further comprising selecting a kind of the servicecorresponding to the transmitted unique identification information, andin which data related to the selected dedicated service is transmittedto the terminal equipment.
 30. The information service method as setforth in claim 29, wherein authentication of an operator of the terminalequipment is performed, and data related to the service is transmittedto the terminal equipment in case the authentication is correctlyperformed.